REGEND increased the knowledge of policymakers and local institutions on socioeconomic and political dynamics and environmental considerations in Arab rural communities. Understanding grew of appropriate small-scale renewable energy technologies that support gender mainstreaming and entrepreneurial development, and address climate change and the water-energy-food nexus.
Assessment
In Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, REGEND assessed socioeconomic and political dynamics and environmental considerations linked to productive activities by sector. It considered requirements for access to energy services, and the availability of supply sources and associated technologies to support resilience in rural communities. Assessment reports guided REGEND’s activities, helping to select pilot communities through a methodology that ensured women and youth would be the main beneficiaries, and that activities would have concrete impacts on beneficiaries’ lives and productive activities. The reports made recommendations for capacity-building, equipment and renewable energy applications. National focus group meetings in Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia provided scope for national partners to make recommendations on pilot locations and types of activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Municipal representative from Lebanon |
|
“The project was timely and vital for us. the solar PV solutions enabled our municipality to operate its services 24/7, to partially operationalize the local clinic, and to operate essential productive activities for the local community.” |
|
Government representative from Jordan |
|
“One of the primary reasons why women are reluctant to start micro productive enterpriseS is that the cost of production is either higher than or equivalent to profits. We never considered the potential of renewable energy as a way to reduce the costs of production.” |
Comments